270 CLEMENCEAU
CLEMENCEAU : He was also a doctor. He had been one
of the Five Hundred. After this he was appointed sub-
prefect of a sub-prefecture which no longer exists :
Montaigu. He took advantage of the appointment to
make speeches and issue proclamations on the glory of
Napoleon, to his heart's content.
[I noticed on his table a pamphlet:
* Clemenceau's Geistliches Ver-
maechtnis.'
MYSELF: Aha!
CLEMENCEAU : Yes, it's by a Boche. He's probably
abusing me violently. Vermaechtms. What does it mean ?
Impotence ?
MYSELF: No. Legacy.
CLEMENCEAU: Oh, really? Are you sure? That
surprises me ... Ver . . . ver . . , (He goes into the
hall and looks for a book on the shelves?) I had a German
dictionary, but everything disappears round here. Some-
body must eat them. . , * Ah, here it is. (He begins to turn
the pages?) Ver . . . ver . . . vermaechtnis . . . legacy. . . .
That's funny!
MYSELF: Ckmenceau's Spiritual Legacy. At least he
doesn't abuse you in the title.
CLEMENCEAU: These Bodies, all the same! Extra-
ordinary people. There's an inscription by the author
which takes ten lines. Is he pulling my leg, I wonder ?
No, he's simply a fellow without malice. Their great
quality lies here—they don't become enfeebled. They'll
fall on us at exactly the right moment. (He gets up.} I'll
go and see the little Jaeger.